Cultural Dimensions, Global Mindset & Iceberg Model
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Framework
Power Distance Index (PDI)
This dimension expresses the degree to which less powerful members of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. People in societies with a high degree of power distance accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place, and which needs no further justification. In societies with low power distance, people strive for equal distribution of power and demand justification for inequalities of power. India scores high on power distance.
High PD (Power Distance): People accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place, and there is no further justification.
Low PD (Power Distance): People strive to equalize the distribution of power and demand justification for inequalities.
Individualism vs. Collectivism (IDV)
Individualism: A framework in which individuals are expected to take care of only themselves and their immediate families.
Collectivism: Represents a preference in society where individuals can expect their relatives or members of a particular in-group to look after them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. India is a society with clear collectivistic traits.
Masculinity vs. Femininity (MAS)
Masculinity: This side of the dimension represents a preference in society for achievement, heroism, assertiveness, and material rewards for success. Society at large is more competitive.
Femininity: Stands for a preference for cooperation, modesty, caring for the weak, and quality of life. Society at large is more consensus-oriented. India is considered a masculine country. India is very masculine in terms of visual displays of success and power.
Monochronic vs. Polychronic Time Perception
Monochronic cultures prefer to do just one thing at a time. They value a certain orderliness and the sense of there being an appropriate time and place for everything. Monochronic people tend to show a great deal of respect for private property and are reluctant to be either a lender or a borrower.
Polychronic cultures prefer to do multiple things at the same time. A manager’s office in a polychronic culture typically has an open door, a ringing phone, and a meeting all going on simultaneously. They also tend to manage interruptions well, with a willingness to change plans often and easily.
Examples: Monochronic cultures are common in places like the USA, Canada, or Northern Europe. Polychronic cultures are often found in Latin America, the Arab parts of the Middle East, or Sub-Saharan Africa.
Understanding a Global Mindset
A global mindset can be defined as the ability to perceive and decode behaviors in multiple cultural contexts. It is an ability to connect with people from other cultures on an intellectual as well as an emotional level.
It helps managers influence individuals, groups, and organizations from other parts of the world. It is essential for success in our increasingly interconnected world.
The Cultural Iceberg Model
If the culture of a society were an iceberg, Hall reasoned that there are some aspects visible above the water, but there is a larger portion hidden beneath the surface. The external part of culture is what we can see and is the tip of the iceberg, including behavior and some beliefs. The internal part of culture is below the surface of a society and includes some beliefs, and the values and thought patterns that underlie behavior. Hall suggests that the only way to learn the internal culture of others is to actively participate in their culture. This model teaches us that we cannot judge a new culture based only on what we see when we first enter it.